The World Should Watch What Is Happening In China

Washington, D.C. – At a weekly press conference, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (CA-23) delivered the following remarks on the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, the continued crisis at the southern border, and the upcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day.

“In Tiananmen Square 30 years ago, we watched a million people stand together for reforms within their own country. It was so powerful that they built the Goddess of Democracy, looking much like our Statue of Liberty, facing directly across a portrait of Mao.

“Anyone 40 years or older knows the moment of what they watched: A lone man standing in front of the tanks that the Chinese government was about to roll in to the Gate of Heavenly Peace. A lone man, standing above for the idea of freedom. We do not know where he stands. We do not know how many hundreds or thousands of people were murdered that day, because the government will not say.

“What we do know is they have less freedom in China today than they did 30 years ago. That the idea of control moves throughout that country. That in China today, the only nation in the world that gives a social score to all their citizens.

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“Not just America, the world should watch what is happening in China today. We should begin a national discussion about what transpired 30 years ago, and where the world is going for the future…”

On the Crisis at the Border

“… Last week, many things happened. Some things that broke records. A record that I don’t know that we will be proud of … more than a thousand people in El Paso in one encounter, in one location, at one moment, came across the border … There will be, the statistics say, more than a million people stopped illegally crossing the border…

“There is a crisis at this border. There are people from other countries other than South America who are now utilizing — coming from other continents — that are now crossing this border in large numbers.

“Part is fundamentally Congress’ problem. We should fix the loopholes. It would not be difficult… [Democrats] refuse to take any action…”

On the 75th Anniversary of D-Day

“…This week we will commemorate the 75th anniversary of D-Day. I will be traveling with the Speaker and a number of members over to the shores of Normandy to remember June 6th, 1944, where more than 70,000 men risked their lives.

“They did not do this for recognition, they did not do it for glory. They wanted to prove to the world that tyranny will be fought in any place around. They really, truly are the greatest generation…

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“We should continue to honor them and make sure they did not fight in vain. And I think one of the areas that we can is here in this House, to focus and put the commitment on the things that they wished we could in that instance, focus on what the American people desire, the idea of freedom and liberty and stand for that in any place around the world.

“Just as those in Tiananmen Square 30 years ago stood before that tank, to risk his own life for the idea of freedom, the idea that had built this nation and continues when America leads the world to safety.”